Switch control.



S. Ar McGONNBLL 6x B. ERIGKSON.

SWITCH GONTROL. APPLICATION FILED 11136.26, 1912.

' Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

I ,4 TTOR/VEV UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL A. MCCONNELL AND BEN ERICKSON, 0F PORTLAND, OREGON.

SWITCH CONTROL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914;

Annlication filed August 26, 1912. Serial No. 717,034.

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch Controls, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention pertains to mecha nism for controlling electric switches of the form employed in operating electric motors and has for its object to provide a device which will hold the lever from accidental engagement with the binding posts, and which also will render it impossible to throw the full current used in starting the machine through the smaller fuses, which fuses would not sustain the large current. We accomplish this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch showing our improved switch control applied thereon. Fig. 9. is a side elevationof same.

Referring to the drawing in detail, 1 represents tlre base of the usual three blade knife switch, having the handle 2 fixed upon the cross bar 3, by means of which the knife blades are operated in the'usual and well known manner.

Intermediate two of the rows of switch terminals is arranged a switch control, consisting of an upright member 4 formed of sheet metal, the lower end 8 of which is bent at right angles thereto to form a base or support, which is fixed to the base 1 on the line of the pivotal supports of the switch lever. At the upper end of the standard 4 is formed an arched portion 5 each end of which approaches the level of the switch terminals at its respective side and the arch is formed on such a radius that it will be freely cleared by the cross bar 3, of the switch. lever.

A short distance above one end of the an h is a transverse bend forming the shoulder 7, from which point to the tip the arched member is inclined to a point some distance beyond the plane of the arch 5 and the support 4. At an equal distance from the opposite end of the arch another shoulder 7- is similarly formed,'but extending in the opposite direction from shoulder 7 and the ter minal 6, but it also is inclined in a. direction opposite to that of the latter.

Upon the cross bar 3 is secured a bracket or clip 13 held in place by the screw 14,

depends suificiently to bear against the side of the arch 5, as the lever is operated. The

bracket will be fixed in line with the arch and as the lever is swung-forward from either set of switch terminals the bar will engage the rounded face of the arch terminal, which stands a sufficient distance above the switch terminals that the switch will always be open before the lever engages the arch. The lever will stand, in inoperative position, between the shoulders 7 and 7 as indicated in dotted lines at 2', and it may be engaged in a spring clip 12,. which will more securely prevent movement thereof, that might result in accidental closing of the switch. I

In starting the machine, it will be noted that the lever cannot be thrown back to the switch terminals or because of the shoulder 7, but it must be thrown forward to the switch terminals 6 which connect with the starting fuses located in the panel box, 111 any convenient location.

current of electricity required in starting the machine, after which the lever can be thrown into engagement with the switch terminals a, the bar 15, engaging the rounded face of the terminal .6, whence it passes the shoulder 7 and moves unobstructed to its destination. To these latter switch ter- These fuses are made large so as to withstand the large,

minals are directly connected the running fuses which are adapted to carry the weaker currentneeded in operatingv the machinery. If the lever were placed in contact with the switch terminals a at the start the heavy strain would result in destroying the running fuses. The base flange 8 is pivotally secured upon the base 1 of the switch by means of the screw 9at one end thereof;--and at the other end is formed a transverse slot 10 through which a set screw 11 passes to engage in thebase 1. By this means the arch may be shifted so as to bring it into for engagementwith the 7 ing from the cross bar of the lever and adapted to bear against the arcuate inemher, and a laterally offset terminal portion ateach end of the arcuate member to form stops for the depending pin, the terminal portion at one end being offset from the body portion in an opposite direction to the terminal portion at the other end, and inclining from its respective shoulder to apoint acrossand beyond the plane of said member.

2. A switch control comprising in combination an oscillating switch lever, an arcuat-e member supported at the center of oscillation of the switch lever, a pin depending from the cross bar of the lever and adapted to bear against the arcuate member, a laterally ofi'set terminal portion at each end of the arcuate member to form stops for the depending pin, the terminal portion at one end being offset from the body portion in an opposite direction to the terminal portion at the other end, each terminal portion inclining from its respective shoulder to a point across and beyond the plane of said member, and means for adjusting the alinement of the arcuate member.

3. A switch control comprising in combination an oscillating switch lever, an arcuate member supported at the center of an oscillation of the switch lever, a pin depending from the cross bar of the lever and adapted to bear against the arcuate member, a laterally. ofl'set terminal portion at each end of the arcuate member to form 3 stops for the depending pin, the terminal portion at one end being ofi'set from the body portion in an opposite direction to the terminal portion at'the other end, each terminal portion inclining from its respec- 40 tive shoulder to a point across and beyond the plane of said member, means for ad justing the alinement of the arcuate membcr and means at the intermediate portion of the arouate member for releasably engaging the depending bar.

In testimony whereof we afiiX our signa tures in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL A. MGGONNELL. BEN ERICKSGN. Witnesses G. B. Nissan, N. A. VOLGAR.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. Q. 

